Tortoise biting?

[leno]

I recently saw one of my tortoise trying to bite another tortoise, aiming at it's tail...Is it showing dominance?
I have 2 start tortoises and recently there is one introduced. Does the older tort bullying the new tort?

 

[Yvonne G]

That is aggression. It would be best if you separate them.

 

[leno]

That is aggression. It would be best if you separate them.

Does it mean that they could not be together?

 

[Yvonne G]

Well, let me put it this way - I have three yellowfooted tortoises with no tails because I wasn't alert enough to realize they were biting each other. When aggression raises its ugly head its best to separate the tortoises.

Now, if you can make them a large - VERY LARGE - outdoor yard, with quite a few sight barriers and several hiding places, you may be able to get away with keeping them all together.

 

[leno]

Well, let me put it this way - I have three yellowfooted tortoises with no tails because I wasn't alert enough to realize they were biting each other. When aggression raises its ugly head its best to separate the tortoises.

Now, if you can make them a large - VERY LARGE - outdoor yard, with quite a few sight barriers and several hiding places, you may be able to get away with keeping them all together.

ok, thanks yvonne. Will monitor and take note...as the younger one is not eating, do not know whether it is due to the bully or some other issues.

 

[Alaskamike]

Not eating can be a sign of many things - bullying included.

I hear what you say about monitoring. But keep in mind two things
1. No matter how often you look in on them - the vast amount of time you are not looking
2. Many of the bullying behaviors in tortoises are subtle - not overt. They bump shells, climb on top of each other , and nip at tails & legs. You may never see it. Sometimes one just follows the other around and we look at that and think " isn't that cute , they're buddies" or you always find them sleeping in the same spot - not realizing it is one signaling to the other there is no escape from me.

It is easy to interpret animal behaviors in terms of human ones. It's what we know.

Dominance can cause one tort to get very ill. It is not always an injury.

Good fortune with yours